I don't like HP, and here's why!

Miscellaneous Topics
#1

I got a nice HP laptop, and it’s pretty cool. However, the heat-sink in it is an odd place, which collects a lot of dust. This makes it slow down every 6 months, and I have to clean it. I don’t even use it on my lap, or in bed. Only on a table. I would think that’s not right. That’s not the problem though, but it is annoying and poor design.

About two weeks ago I got a harddisk error, reporting that their SMART-system had an error, and that the harddisk wouldn’t remain functional very long. Windows reported the same problem, but in a spammy fashion. Well, fuck!

So I called HP costumer support (the machine wasn’t very much more than a year old), but they wouldn’t talk to me unless I still had my HP-warrenty (Where I live, there’s a protection of the buyer, and for PC’s that’s two years of… well, the product has to work for two years at least). In that protection it says that no agreements ever (even if I sign that they can take the right) can override that protection (not that I did that. I’m just making sure you know the HP-warrenty doesn’t override my natural one). They then offered to take a look at the error, and then tell me what it would cost. They also informed that taking such a look at it would require them to take out time, so they would ofcourse have to charge for telling me a price. Then I asked quickly what a new harddisk costs, and they told me it would be at least $150. Well, double fuck.

So I called the guys who sold me the PC (that company is really nice), and they know that I need two years of warrenty on any PC - even though the HP warrenty is only one year. They made a case for me, and a nice guy from UPS came and picked it up for a free repair. Yay.

Today the machine returned, and I indeed got a new harddisk. Ofcourse, it was filled with all their shitty drivers and whatnot but I can clean up. No problems.
However the first time I boot it, it reports that the fan is now non-functional. It doesn’t run, but the computer can still run. So… no fan, now. Well, counter-fuck!

Now, an hour after I called the company they had to open a new case, and hopefully the UPS guy will return. That’s another two weeks of waiting. Also, the fan wasn’t broke before I sent it in. :emo:

If this continues I’ll have a brand new computer by the end of the year! It’s not a very good experience though. Usually I enjoy the summer, because there’s not a lot to do. I don’t have to study or anything, so I have all the time in the world. I usually make games during this time, and it’s great!

I don’t own a television, a phone, or a computer now. I also just recently moved country. I get to sit inside all day and just watch the sun go by. It’s awesome. :frowning:

#2

(moved to misc)

#3

Fine by me :slight_smile:

#4

I have heard much bad things about HP and especially about their laptops

here is the thing though: I bought one 6 years ago, and its still running great, sitting on it right NOW.

fell down once and cracked the screen with a line. bought a replacement from ebay, for 30 bucks and fixed it.
the dust and overheat problem is true, however compressed air or a vacuum cleaner solves this problem quickly.

Never had any other issues.

Just goes to show you that its mostly luck and can happen with any company/hardware.
I like to avoid acer, but even that doesnt seem all that meaningful anymore

so who knows

I am one of these guys who fully accepts and expects devices, especially laptops to break after warranty…
Since mine is now running for 6 years, I am very tempted to buy HP again…

Kicking it old school.

#5

I hate HP as well, I have mine (using it right now) for 3 years, but had to change HDD and battery and had to the fix power cord.
But what I hate the most is the materials, the plastics seem low quality and the aweful cooling system blend them a lot, making it look and feel weird. Also the keyboard got it’s painting removed in only one key (The S key), and looks bad :frowning: I won’t replace the whole keyboard for just one key :frowning:

So, I hate the building quality and cooling design. Never will buy HP. This one was a gift :slight_smile:

#6

well since we are on the topic and my laptop is old, what kinda laptop WOULD you buy ?

#7

Dell - Alienware :slight_smile:
Also, MSI, Lenovo…

If I didn’t live in a crappy country :frowning:

#8

Lenovo

see… I heard the old IBM ThinkPads & IdeaPads were great
however now that Lenovo owns it - I dont know anymore
I recall they are chinese and some people said poor quality n stuff

I would like to try em out

#9

Who cares if Lenovo is Chinese? Find me a laptop that isn’t made in China.

I love my old MSI laptop overall, but the trackpad on it is just godawful. The chipset in it is also a little funky, and virtualbox and vmware both hate it, running any vm glacially if at all. Fedora also doesn’t like it, only ubuntu would install on it (I went back to windows 7). MSI support, however, is pathetic. Their support website is barely even in english. Even so, the hardware itself is really nice for the price.

HP laptops have always been kind of a crapshoot.

#10

Well of course all the stuff comes from china, but it still is something different if the whole company is chinese.
Well maybe not, but with the “chinese quality” preconception and the fact that all technology indeed comes from there, kinda clash.

#11

My problem with HP is that I still remember how good they used to be, and have trouble not comparing them now to that standard. This is exacerbated by the 8100 series printer I bought three years ago from one of those tech salvage companies in Hayward. I think these were built in the late 1980’s and aimed at corporate department duties. This one prints on tabloid, so I can use it to publish sheet music.

A replacement cartridge is good for something like 100 times more copies than the cartridges they sell for the current crop of computers. But the cartridges are no longer being made, as far as I know. It is still possible to find one here or there on the Internet. However, I think I’m good for another couple years at the rate I print.

Once the founding family left the business, the blood-suckers (Harvard Business school types?) took over, and they are looking for every way they can to extract as much as possible from their customer base. AND, to pay as little as they can get away with for as much work as they can extract from their employees as well. Maximize profits! It’s a vast culture change at the company. A lot of blame is thrown at Fiorini, and there is little reason to assume Romney buddy Meg Whitman is going to be much better for the customers or her employees.

More and more companies are run that way as well, it seems, so good luck finding a laptop of value (and do let us know if you do)!

#12

With laptops, most of the cheap ones that contain decent hardware are made in a crappy way. Bad materials, and horrible quality overall. Dell is marketing itself by being professional, and quality - I had an inspiron, but that burned on the first day. I’ve had problems with it since. The charger also has a loose connection, and the keys fall off/break. I think I’m sounding like I’m super violent to my things, but it’s just a lot of use. That inspiron keyboard was crappy.

Most of them are also full of shitty drivers, that does nothing to enhance the experience. When I got my HP back today with a new harddisk, it also had drivers for everything. Even choosing a wireless connection, or watching a simple DVD. They’re also all started up when the PC starts, and it takes several minutes after logging into windows.

I was on an internship in something called “3D/Game-College”. They had thinkpads for all their students (including me), and it rocked! Those were some really nice laptops. MSI should be nice too.

#13

Yeah - its very sad.
I mean there is no problem with running a successful business - but it seems all moral and ethical boundaries have been lost - anything goes in todays economy.

Well yeah. I usually specifically look for laptops without OS, because I dont want to pay for windows again. However they do get rarer.
But still, formatting it when you get it is a no-brainer…

Yeah I think Im gonna try them…

#14

My girlfriend got a cheap lenovo. It’s pretty good for the price, better materials than my HP, better design as well :slight_smile:

Hope you find what you’re looking for soon :slight_smile:

#15

Those thinkpads have the craziest design. They look like they’re from the 70’s and designed to be waterproof as well. It’s really freaky, but the quality is really good. On the other hand, I don’t wanna pay for design. I pay for crap that works. “…comment about apple.”

#16

They are like bulldogs - ugly, but you still love them =D

#17

[quote=“Cero,post:16,topic:39354”]
Close enough :smiley:

EDIT: It’s a good comparison. I like my dog. :slight_smile:

#18

But why specifically HP? This thread would have had so much more potential as a generic rant thread. “I don’t like , and here’s why!” :slight_smile:

#19

There are many worse companies than HP, but none that were better when HP was in its prime. That’s the reason I contributed to this thread–comparing it now to what it once was.

But the main reason this is about HP is because that is the product owned by the OP and causing grief. Yes?

#20

[quote=“philfrei,post:19,topic:39354”]
Right. :slight_smile: